Head-Hunting Charm

Naga, Indian Highlands, India
19th-early 20th c.

Provenance: Guy and Nathalie Porre, Paris

This macabre, diminutive wooden charm, carved in the form of a human head, serves as tangible proof that its wearer has not only killed but has literally taken a head. Such charms were traditionally worn around the necks of male headhunters in Nagaland and were deeply revered. The more charms or trophy heads a man possessed, the greater his status within the community. This particular example is superbly rendered, with a fierce expression, finely carved ears, and a mouth bared in an aggressive, tooth-exposing grimace. The charm displays a rich, smooth patina from prolonged handling, and the irregular, worn holes at the top are consistent with early, authentically used examples.